“Elder Tong, you watched me grow up with your own eyes. How could Yingying lie about such a thing…” Ren Yingying lowered her head demurely and sighed softly, appearing awfully worried. Her pair of eyes reddened as she spoke. “Uncle Dongfang seems to be seized by an evil demon, he’s being deceived by that Yang Lianting and doesn’t even recognize his own family anymore!”
“Yingying heard with her own ears that Uncle Dongfang will return to his hometown to live in seclusion with Yang Lianting.” Ren Yingying tightly gripped the silk handkerchief she held and slightly raised her tone, “Uncle Dongfang ignores the thousands of members of the Holy Cult, from the highest to the lowest, for that kept man of his. If that Yang Lianting has a wicked heart and mind, what will happen to our Holy Cult’s foundation?”
Once Tong Baixiong heard these words he instantly stood up. Eyes wide, he angrily asked, “It’s all true, what you’ve said? The Cult Master doesn’t care about controlling the affairs of the Holy Cult and intends to live in seclusion with that villainous kept man regardless of everything?” Tong Baixiong felt anxious and split the table before him in half with a single punch. The hard wood splitting apart sounded as loud as his rough tone. “Yang Lianting that lowly servant is to blame! He’s definitely not a good person. My poor Brother Dongfang, you were deceived by that traitor!”
“Countless rumors and slanders are spreading like wildfire in the Wulin. I reckon Yang Lianting did such a fine thing indeed.” Tong Baixiong’s chest rose and fell, after sighing heavily he said “Now those prestigious righteous sects are organizing a general assembly to forcibly suppress our Sun Moon Holy Cult.”
“Brother Dongfang, you’re confused!”
“Yingying has the same thought.” She sighed softly, “Only a few days from now the Wulin General Assembly will commence and at such a critical moment the external forces of our cult have suffered such heavy losses, but Uncle Dongfang was coaxed into leaving the cult by that Yang Lianting. No one knows where they went. If they are opposed by one of those righteous disciples–”
“Uncle Tong, Yingying is really scared–”
“No need to fear!” Tong Baixiong snorted confidently, “Our Sun Moon Holy Cult has a deep foundation and can’t be easily toppled by that disorderly mob of hypocrites. Besides, as long as I, Old Tong, have a breath left–” Tong Baixiong patted his chest proudly and said in a booming voice, “I and Brother Dongfang share a fateful friendship for many years, how can the few days he’s been with Yang Lianting compare? Besides, a relationship between a man and a man is an offense to public decency! I, Old Tong, firmly believe that even if Brother Dongfang is infatuated with that kept man of his, he’ll definitely wake up and recognize Yang Lianting’s true face as long as I persuade him!”
“Uncle Tong Yingying knows you mean well” Ren Yingying said with joy. “Earlier, she noticed Uncle Dongfang pampering that guard so much,[2] Yingying worried that he had evil intentions. Uncle Tong, you must go forward and persuade Uncle Dongfang at all costs! You and Uncle Dongfang have been through life and death for so many years. Even if he’s been confused, in his mind your status must surely be higher than that of his kept man!”
“Yingying can finally rest assured.”
“You girl, you girl really have a heart of gold!” Feeling elated and flattered, Tong Baixiong could not help but stay a bit longer. Sitting on his seat, he suddenly raised his head and harrumphed, “Don’t worry, I’ll leave for that Wulin General Assembly later. Even if Brother Dongfang isn’t atop Blackwood Cliff right now, he’ll definitely rush over once he hears the news. At that time–” Tong Baixiong’s eyes glinted fiercely “If Yang Lianting harbors sinister intentions, I’ll definitely not let him continue to stay next to Brother Dongfang.”
Tong Baixiong was an impetuous person and easily excited, his words and actions were as rapid as the rain. After estimating the time until the Wulin General Assembly commenced, he then summoned the Wind and Thunder Hall’s entire force and set off in a hurry.
Seeing Tong Baixiong leave, Ren Yingying sat alone in her chambers and coldly sneered. The panic and anxiety disappeared from her beautiful face and only indifference remained. Raising her brows, she snorted triumphantly. A cold and calculating light in her eyes. “What an idiot. No wonder he was driven down the cliff[3] by Dongfang Bubai.” Ren Yingying narrowed her eyes and calmly thought about her next move, when a loud voice sounded.
“Miss!”
Xiang Wentian quickly walked in from the outside, then took a deep breath and heavily knelt on the ground with a thud. “Miss, there’s a report… from Jiangnan…”
Ren Yingying smiled, stood up and walked to Xiang Wentian “Did Daddy escape?”
Xiang Wentian slowly shook his head.
Seeing his hesitant expression, the corners of Ren Yingying’s smiled froze. Sighing in worry, countless fears welled up in her heart. Standing still, she silently stared at Xiang Wentian. In the end, she opened her mouth to ask, “Uncle Xiang, it’s fine. Please tell me, what’s written in the Jiangnan report?”
“The Cult Master–” Xiang Wentian clenched his fist until his knuckles were white and his blue veins protruded. As if he were filled with extreme hatred, he repeatedly kowtowed on the floor. His forehead heavily hit the ground again and again until it was bloody. Suppressing his rage and hatred, he solemnly said, “The Elder Cult Master, he–”
“The Elder Cult Master died in Jiangnan’s Water Dungeon!”
“How can it be?!”
Ren Yingying was utterly shocked, her whole body trembling violently. She shook her head in disbelief, “Back then, Dongfang Bubai imprisoned Daddy in the Water Dungeon. He locked him up in that awful place to torture him, but not to kill him–”
“It wasn’t Dongfang Bubai, who took his life.” Taking a deep breath, Xiang Wentian slowly shook his head. Cold killing intent flashing in his eyes, “It was Yang Lianting.”
“The Four Friends of Jiangnan stated that the one who went into the West Lake Water Dungeon to kill the Elder Cult Master that night was Yang Lianting. His methods are cruel and vicious, he poisoned the Elder Cult Master with Broken Bone Powder! For seven days, the Elder Cult Master’s whole body broke apart and his wounds festered, until he perished under horrid torture.” Xiang Wentian could not speak further, his chest rapidly falling and rising in ranger. Hesitating for a moment, he then continued, “The Four Friends of Jiangnan said Yang Lianting stole the cult master’s token to enter the dungeon under false orders.”
“Once Dongfang Bubai rushed over, he did not kill him even though he was furious.”
Bang–
Ren Yingying slapped the teacup before her aside. Falling to the floor, the precious teacup was shattered into pieces. Her eyes were bloodshot red and filled with hatred. Gritting her teeth, she did not allow herself to cry. She clenched her fists until her nails pierced into her flesh “Yang Lianting, it’s Yang Lianting again!”
“Just who is he? Why hold a grudge against my father!”
“Dongfang Bubai, too! First, he usurped my father’s position and imprisoned him beneath the West Lake for so many years. Now, he even allowed his kept man to use such cruel methods to murder my father!”
“Miss!” Xiang Wentian took a deep breath and respectfully knelt on the ground again. He bowed his head and said in a deep voice, “The Elder Cult Master has passed, grief is useless.”
“Miss! We must avenge the Elder Cult Master and kill Yang Lianting and Dongfang Bubai at the next opportunity. Miss, the Wulin General Assembly–”
“They must die!” Ren Yingying’s nails pierced her flesh until her palms bled. Bloodshot eyes staring madly, she said word for word through gritted teeth, “They must die, they must both die!”
“Earlier, Wang Cheng seemed anxious.” Looking at the man beside him Yang Lianting asked, “I guess the Holy Cult’s matter must be serious. What did Wang Cheng say?”
Turning his head aside, Dongfang Bubai lightly replied, “It’s only the Wulin General Assembly that’s causing trouble for the cult.” Lowering his tone faintly, he continued, “He also said that Yingying… lately tried to rope in the congregation and excludes dissidents.”
“This witch, the preparations must’ve begun like this!”[4] Yang Lianting scornfully snorted.
“What did you say?” Dongfang Bubai faintly pursed his lips, “Lian di, why don’t you seem surprised at all? It’s as if you’ve known from the very beginning that Yingying would seize this chance to make trouble in the dark–”
“Of course, if you don’t want to say it, it’s alright too–”
“Because I don’t believe that anyone in this world would treat the person, who defeated and imprisoned their own father, as if he were their true uncle.” Yang Lianting sighed in his heart and firmly held Dongfang Bubai’s hand, “That Ren Yingying never seemed like a simple person to me, but her scheming in secret is within reason since you kept Ren Woxing locked up beneath the West Lake for years.”
Listening quietly to him explain, Dongfang Bubai curved his lips and smiled softly, “Lian di, you don’t need to be nervous. I said before that I wouldn’t question why you killed Ren Woxing and know Ren Yingying’s secrets.”
“Today, I’m just casually asking you.” Lowering his eyelids, he continued, “I said before that if I believe in you, I will believe in you until the end. If you don’t want to tell me, I won’t ask any more.”
Yang Lianting was stunned still. Coughing lightly to clear his dry throat, he seemed unwilling to continue the topic. He nodded and paused slightly. Pretending as if nothing were wrong he then nonchalantly asked him, “Did he say anything else?”
“Rumors and slanders are spreading rapidly in the Holy Cult” Dongfang Bubai knew clearly that Yang Lianting was trying to change the subject, but he did not care. Raising his head to look at him, he smiled softly “It’s said that you and I have a very close relationship in secret. The rumors are–”
“Inciting their wild speculations is likely Yingying’s doing.” Dongfang Bubai reached out his hand to touch the river’s surface then watched the ripples enlarge and spread out rapidly. The dim light obscuring the emotions in his eyes.
“I don’t like people talking about you.”
“Lian di, they say you’re my kept man.”
“I don’t like it at all.”
Yang Lianting happily laughed out loud, “Hahahah!” Raising his hand to smooth out the frown of the person in red beside him. “What’s wrong with being a kept man? Dongfang, I’ve said it so many times before. In this life, I have no grand ambitions. I only want to stay beside you for the rest of our lives. Besides, it’s very good to be the Invincible East’s kept man.”
“Alright, it’s so windy outside.” Yang Lianting stood up, then patted the wrinkles on his robes before he took a step forward to help Dongfang Bubai straighten out his robes, “We have a long way to go tomorrow morning, let’s head back.”
Dongfang Bubai usually agreed to everything Yang Lianting suggested. He was about to nod in reply, but before he could say a word his line of sight fell back on the flowing river.
Gazing at the beautifully flickering lotus lanterns floating on the water surface, he thought that Yang Lianting had put lantern after lantern on the river for him, for the two of them. He had not looked at them for long enough yet, so he felt reluctant to leave.
Slightly puzzled, Yang Lianting followed Dongfang Bubai’s line of sight and understood what he thought about. Heart faintly softening, he sighed and stepped forward.
Bowing his head, he gently kissed Dongfang’s forehead.
“Dongfang, I’ll go get you a river lantern. Let’s bring it back with us as a memento, alright?” He paused and closed Dongfang Bubai’s collar. “It’s windy here, stand there and wait for me.”
The riverbank was covered in long shadows as well as bright lights and vibrant colors, the swaying lanterns’ warm lights were reflected on the dark water. Noticing a river lantern drifting near them, Yang Lianting walked closer to the riverbank and reached out his hand. He was about to grab it when a heavy gale blew.
Yang Lianting felt a shiver down his spine and his heart skip a beat. Quickly turning his head, he intended to shout Dongfang Bubai’s name but in the next instant a black shadow flew straight at him. Suddenly he felt a burst of pain in his eyes, his eyesight pitch-black. He still intended to shout but his neck was ruthlessly strangled and a blade’s edge was pressed against his abdomen.
Eyes stinging in pain and body drenched in cold sweat, Yang Lianting took a deep breath. Gritting his teeth to restrain himself and remain cool-headed.